Dr. Eric Lawitz, of the Texas Liver Institute, Publishes on a New Standard of Care for Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection and Severe Renal Impairment

San Antonio, Texas, November 16, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Dr. Eric Lawitz, internationally recognized for his work in liver disease, published groundbreaking results from a Phase 3 study in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and severe renal impairment.   The study was performed at the American Research Corp at the Texas Liver Institute, a world-renowned facility for liver research and the prevention and treatment of liver disease.

Recently, MAVYRET^TM (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection.  MAVYRET^TM is an 8-week, pan-genotypic treatment for hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment.  MAVYRET^TM is also approved as a 12-week regimen for patients with cirrhosis who are new to treatment.  Importantly, MAVYRET^TM is the first approved regimen to treat patients infected with any genotype of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and across all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD have an increased prevalence of chronic HCV infection and have increased risk for progression to end-stage renal disease compared to those without HCV infection.

Dr. Eric Lawitz, along with his colleagues, published the results of the clinical trial that enrolled patients with severe renal impairment in the New England Journal of Medicine (377: 1448-1455; DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1704053).  The clinical trial, EXPEDITION-4 (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02651194), was an open-label, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in adults infected with HCV genotype 1-6 and compensated liver disease (with or without cirrhosis) with severe renal impairment and/or dialysis dependence (CKD Stage 4 or 5). Overall, 104 patients enrolled, and 98% (102/104) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) with 12 weeks of treatment. 

"The availability of an all oral, once-daily, pangenotypic regimen that can cure >95% of HCV-infected patients in as little as 8 weeks is astounding news," said Dr. Lawitz, a study author and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health, San Antonio.  "We know that severe renal disease is commonly present in HCV-infected patients and having access to a regimen with a 98% cure rate that doesn’t require dose adjustment is an advancement that patients and treaters alike have been waiting for."  

About Texas Liver Institute

The Texas Liver Institute (TLI) is a one-of-a-kind facility, and one of the very few dedicated and freestanding clinical care and research facilities in the world. The most advanced research in viral hepatitis, fatty liver disorders, liver cancer and cirrhosis is being conducted in this facility, which has been recognized internationally for its contributions to the field of liver diseases.

The Texas Liver Institute continues to push the boundaries of new discoveries and advance the field of liver disease into the future through research and education.

About Dr. Eric Lawitz

Dr. Eric Lawitz is Vice President of Scientific and Research Development at the Texas Liver Institute and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health, San Antonio. He has conducted extensive research in liver disease, authored over 300 publications and presented his work at both national and international medical meetings. He is internationally recognized for his work in liver disease research and education.

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Source: Texas Liver Institute (TLI)